Wednesday 23rd September, 2015 in Stone.
A beautiful morning and our very quiet mooring opposite the cemetary.
We moored alongside two preserved bottle kilns that were built in 1887 as part of the Cliff Vale Potteries, home to Twyford's of sanitary ware fame. Their rather comical hairy appearance is due to small shrubs, which have taken root in their brickwork.
The main entrance and office building for Twyford's works are also preserved on the main road and are now used as offices, but the remainder of this massive site has been redeveloped as housing.
We were only a couple of hundred yards from a secure truck park used by Eddie Stobart's trucks and we have visited it a number of times in the past by car to spot "Eddies". We walked up to it but were disappointed to find only two Eddies there; we wondered if perhaps Stobarts have stopped using it.
We set off through the next lock, which was fortuitously in our favour - but when M opened the bottom gates, there was another boat trying to get in, blocking the narrow exit!
They had to back up to let us out and their skipper cheerfully blamed his "missus" for not paying attention!
We never pass "Jones & Shufflebottom" without a chuckle at the name. The name on the other side of the factory has been shortened to "Jones & Shuffs" (we also see it from the train). The two little dogs (with their lifejackets) had obviously hopped on to their boat roof for a better look!
Wedgwood's factory was originally in the centre of Stoke-on-Trent but 75 years ago, they moved to this site out in the country. They do excellent factory tours and afternoon teas served on their best china, but we didn't go in this time.
We have seen many very desirable houses on this summer's trip, even some that we could afford! But this house between Stoke and Stone is one of R's favourites. It has its own mooring arm - just right for MM; however, it might be a tad outside our price range!
Approaching Stone, we were surprised to see nb "Tyseley", home to the Mikron Theatre. They travel the canal network all summer giving performances. All their remaining dates this year are in the north, so it's a bit of a mystery why their narrowboat is still down here in the Midlands.
nb "Foxglove", with her splendid LMS livery has got to be one of the finest boats that we have ever seen. Even the little shed has her name created as the old station names were once done.
MM, photographed from the old horse tunnel next to the lock as we entered Stone.
Joule's Brewery has occupied these canalside premises since 1780. This warehouse is the only part of the brewery that remains, the main building was sadly demolished by Bass Charrington in 1974 amid local outcry. In 2010, after a gap of 36 years, Joule's beer once again began to be brewed in Stone and they continue brewing their real ale today. Hurrah!
Stone is one of the most popular towns on the waterways and overnight moorings are much in demand. Every mooring was taken as we approached and M had asked the skipper of nb "Marbury" (that we had been following through the locks since Stoke) if we could brest up alongside them. They very kindly agreed, but as we approached, the boat in front of them was leaving and so we were able to moor up in their space.
Stone has a lovely jolly atmosphere all year round and the pedestrianised main street is a delight. So we had a Costa to celebrate our good fortune in finding such a nice mooring.
This must be the first time that we have had fairy lights over our mooring!
Today: 9 miles, 10 locks and 6.1 hours.
Trip: 358 miles, 289 locks and 276.7 hours
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